Getting a Visa To Visit North America
To visit North American countries and tourist attractions in those countries, you may need a tourist visa or an eVisa. There isn’t a one-visa-for-all, each country regulates their specific visa requirements.
North America is the third largest continent with an area of 24.7 million km², covering about 4.8% of Earth’s total surface. It is located in the Northern Hemisphere bordered by the Arctic Ocean in the North, by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, by South America and the Caribbean to the southeast, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west and south.
In terms of population, North America ranks as the fourth most populous continent after Asia, Africa, and Europe. As of 2021, it has a population of around 578 million people. Geographically, the UN defines this northern continent as made up of three regions: Northern America, Central America, and the Caribbean.
How Many Countries are There in North America?
There are 23 countries in North America:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Canada
- Costa Rica
- Cuba
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- El Salvador
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Saint Lucia
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United States
The United States takes the lead as the largest country by population, while Canada is the largest by area at 9.9 million km². The smallest country, both in population and area, is Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Greenland is also counted as a part of North America because of its geographical location. However, being part of Denmark it is not a sovereign country.
| Country | Capital | Area | Population (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States of America | Washington | 9,629,091 km2 | 327 million people |
| Mexico | Mexico City | 1,964,375 km2 | 126 million people |
| Canada | Ottawa | 9,984,670 km2 | 37 million people |
| Guatemala | Guatemala City | 108,889 km2 | 17 million people |
| Cuba | Havana | 109,886 km2 | 11 million people |
| Haiti | Port au Prince | 27,750 km2 | 11 million people |
| Dominican Republic | Santo Domingo | 48,671 km2 | 10 million people |
| Honduras | Tegucigalpa | 112,492 km2 | 9 million people |
| Nicaragua | Managua | 130,373 km2 | 6 million people |
| El Salvador | San Salvador | 21,041 km2 | 6 million people |
| Costa Rica | San José | 51,100 km2 | 4 million people |
| Panama | Panama City | 75,417 km2 | 4 million people |
| Jamaica | Kingston | 10,991 km2 | 2 million people |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Port of Spain | 5,130 km2 | 1 million people |
| Belize | Belmopan | 22,966 km2 | 383,056 people |
| Bahamas | Nassau | 13,943 km2 | 385,629 people |
| Barbados | Bridgetown | 430 km2 | 286,640 people |
| Saint Lucia | Castries | 539 km2 | 181,887 people |
| Grenada | St. George’s | 344 km2 | 111,453 people |
| Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | Kingstown | 389 km2 | 110,210 people |
| Antigua and Barbuda | St. John’s | 442 km2 | 96, 284 people |
| Dominica | Roseau | 751 km2 | 71,625 people |
| Saint Kitts and Nevis | Basseterre | 261 km2 | 52, 440 people |
Map of Countries in North America
Is the Caribbean a Part of North America?
Yes, the Caribbean is a part of North America. The Caribbean, also known as West Indies, includes a number of islands and archipelagos (more than 700 islands), stretched across the Caribbean sea.
Languages Spoken in North America
The top ten most popular languages in North America include the following:
| Language | Region | Number of Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| English | United States Canada Mexico Central America (some speakers) Caribbean (some islands) |
334 million |
| Spanish | Mexico United States Cuba Dominican Republic Central America Caribbean |
125 million |
| French | Canada Haiti |
18 million |
| Chinese | United States Canada Mexico |
2-3 million |
| Nahuatl | Mexico | 2 million |
| Tagalog | United States Canada |
2 million |
| Vietnamese | United States Canada |
1.4 million |
| German | United States Canada |
1.3 million |
| Korean | United States Canada |
1.2 million |
| Italian | United States Canada |
1 million |
Please note that North America is diverse in its population and language, therefore there is a huge number of languages spoken, especially indigenous languages- this table only depicts those that are spoken by the majority.
The Most Popular Tourist Attractions in North America
Tourist attractions in North America depend on which country you’re visiting. However, some of the most popular destinations include:
- New York City.
- Antelope Canyon in Arizona.
- Niagara Falls in Ontario.
- Angel Falls in Venezuela.
- Guadalajara in Mexico.
- The Mayan city of Copan in Honduras.
- Tikal in Guatemala.
- Haiku Stairs of Oahu in Hawaii
Sometimes, you may be allowed to enter some countries in North America visa-free, but this will depend on your country of citizenship.